An LCMS Pastoral Response to Controversy

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) has been in the news (National and Local) recently with controversy surrounding a prayer vigil in Newtown, CT after the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, in which a LCMS pastor gave a benediction. If you would like to catch up on the issue click here to find the links to the letters from the different parties involved.

Pastor Ron Burcham, the Sr. Pastor at Gloria Dei, wanted to make known where he stands on the issue. His response is the following:

You may be aware of the “Public Prayer Controversy” that has been the topic of headlines across the country. It has brought The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), the national church body of which Gloria Dei is a member, into the national spotlight. Rev. Rob Morris, a young, recently ordained pastor of the LCMS, was requested to apologize for “exceeding the bounds of practice allowed by the Scriptures, our Lutheran Confessions, and the constitution of our Synod.” The request for this apology came from the President of the LCMS, Rev. Matthew Harrison. There is a link on our website to his letter and all other mentioned letters or articles.

The controversy centers on a prayer vigil that was offered after the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. The prayer vigil had participants from various Christian denominations and representatives from the Baha’I and Muslim faiths. President Obama was present and addressed the crowd.

According to President Harrison’s letter: Pastor Morris took specific steps to insure that there would not be the impression that those present were in agreement in their beliefs. President Harrison also notes in the letter that Pastor Morris “asked for an announcement before the event to make it clear that those participating did not endorse each other’s views. He read from Scripture when he spoke.”

Nonetheless, President Harrison concluded that the vigil was indeed a worship service and that Pastor Morris had acted contrary to the constitution of the Synod and Scripture. Pastor Morris offered an apology to those whom he had caused offense, but not for participating. Pastor Morris wrote; “I did not believe my participation to be an act of joint worship, but one of mercy and care to a community shocked and grieving an unspeakably horrific event.”

After the news media capitalized on the story, President Harrison issued another letter of apology to the church for the way he handled the situation. In addition President Harrison, Pastor Morris, and Pastor Morris’ District President issued a joint letter of harmony.

There are various opinions as to whether Pastor Morris should have participated in the vigil. Unfortunately many of the opinions have been shared over the internet and many have simply ignored the 8th commandment. In the Small Catechism’s explanation of the 8th commandment Luther wisely wrote about how we are to speak of our neighbor: “We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.”

Pastor Morris made a decision in a short amount of time with limited information. Only he knows all of the emotions and thoughts that went into that decision and it is unfair and unjust to throw stones after the event. In my personal opinion, he acted correctly and demonstrated maturity beyond his years and certainly beyond his experience in ministry. He proclaimed the love of Jesus to a community that needed comfort and hope. Unapologetically he proclaimed the Gospel and gave voice to God’s compassion and grace in the public square.

I understand that we never want to give the impression that there are various pathways to God or heaven. We never want to lead anyone to believe that the differences between Christianity and other religions is unimportant, but I do not believe that anyone watching the prayer vigil would walk away with that impression. What they saw was a community coming together to try to make sense out of a senseless act of violence.

My final thought is, what message would have been given if Pastor Morris had not participated? What message would people assume about his congregation and the Lutheran church? I believe it would have been the impression that we are uncaring and very closed. Both would be completely untrue, but nonetheless, I believe that would have been the impression.

I know that all do not share my opinion and I respect that. I felt that you, the members of Gloria Dei, would want to know where I stand on what has become a very public event in our church body.

In Christ,

Pastor Burcham

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13 Comments:

It seems to me there are a whole lot more things to get worried about than whether liturgical correctness was clearly presented to the non-Lutherans. If our church body can really condemn outreach to those who are non-LCMS when major opportunity presents itself then expect us to drive away more than we bring into the flock. How else do we “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.”?

Matt 28: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I’m saddened by the lack of leadership or understanding or both by our national church leaders. The world is a mission field, the US maybe the largest of all. Jesus was compassionate at all times especially times of trouble. Maybe we need to consider that more carefully. It seems many are more concerned with following some denominational rules rather than making disciples of all nations.

When President Harrison was elected, I hoped for the best. I’m still hoping.

Question for Pr. Burcham and those of you that posted your comments regarding this topic — I’m curious as to where you feel (or -believe- I should rather state) then the line of syncretism, let alone unionism, is crossed (or even drawn) in accordance with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions (i.e. Book of Concord)? Also, do you feel there could have been other options that Pr. Morris could have pursued that would have not only given better witness to the Gospel (and proclamation of the Law–rightly dividing the two), but yet not stirring up controversy within the Synod?

I’m not sure there is a clear line in this case. Even President Harrison said that the topic of worship has not been clearly defined in the LCMS. The debate can be had on what people believe Scripture or the Confessions have to say, they already have and will continue to have. I am confident this subject will get sorted out soon by all the committees that will be put in place after the next convention.

When Pastor Morris said he never considered it a worship service, I believe him. To address whether there could have been a better way would be futile because it is in the past.

I believe that people who agreed with Pastor Morris are not in favor of unionism or syncretism but they are in favor of proclaiming the truth in Christ to people when they are hurting and looking for answers. It doesn’t have anything to do with giving credence to other gods or other religions.

Just my thoughts. Thanks for weighing in on the subject and look forward to the discussion.

I would agree with what Pastor Robarge wrote in his response. I believe that while we live on this side of heaven we will make choices and decisions with the information we are given. I believe that Pastor Morris made a decision to participate with limited time and information. This was a crisis of the greatest magnitude. Children were killed, parents were grieving, and a community was hurting. I don’t believe that anyone who was not part of that community can know or understand the dynamics.

Also this quote from a study done by the Commission on Constitutional Matters; “Historical Background and Interpretation of Ariticle VI.2 of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod might be of interest to you.

Writing in 1943, Theodore Graebner and P. E. Kretzmann related the following story, which seems to support Walther’s position:
The Rev. Julius Friedrich tells of his experience with Dr. Walther…. When a student, Rev. Friedrich, while on vacation at his home on a farm in Lake Co., Ill., was asked by a Congregationalist minister and his church council to conduct services in their church. Student Friedrich declined. On his return to St. Louis he made a report to Professor Walther and, to his surprise, was given a severe ‘calling down.’ Crestfallen, he said, ‘Then I should have preached the distinctive doctrines separating us from the Congregationalists?’ Walther answered: ‘No; you should have preached the simple doctrine of salvation, for example, the doctrine of the means of grace.’110
It appears that Walther and others in the Synod at the time stressed the importance of proclaiming the Gospel to anyone who was willing to listen, even from the pulpit in congregations with which it was not in fellowship, albeit under certain circumstances. Over time the reproval of error must follow and with it must come the true teaching of God’s Word. The Lord’s Supper was not to be celebrated in such congregations until the communicated had been instructed and were committed to Lutheran teaching and practice. The services in these congregations were to be Lutheran services in their liturgy, hymns and prayers. All this was in keeping with the recognition that Christians were in these congregations—believers who needed to hear the preaching of God’s Word.

I have to agree with Sue Wilson here in particular. If you are on the front line in battle, you do not necessarily have time to assess which of von Clausewitz’s principles is most applicable or how to follow SunTze exactly – and we are on the front line against the Great Deceiver, quite obviously, where violence is concerned. Our fight is not of this world, so the confessions are less important than the stand against the Evil One. Later there will be time; not now.